2 min readLucknowDec 11, 2013 03:47 AM IST
First published on: Dec 11, 2013 at 03:47 AM IST
After hunt for gold proved futile in Unnao,a priest in UP’s Sambhal district a week ago had started digging near an ancient temple,which reportedly is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The priest,who claimed to have dreamt of treasure beneath the temple,has been arrested.
Baba Bihari Giri of Chandradeshar Mahadev temple at Chandrayan village,along with his five disciples,had dug around 40 feet before the police arrived and stopped the digging. All six were arrested on Sunday and booked under section 151 (breach of peace) of the CrPC. They were later released on personal bonds.
“It is an ancient temple. A board displaying that it is a protected monument and falls under ASI jurisdiction has been put up near the temple. We are writing to the ASI about the matter,” Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate C P Tiwari said.
Following the incident,tension prevailed at Chandrayan,with locals angry with the priest.
Sambhal Circle Officer Jagveer Singh Attri said: “The priest told the police that he had dreamt that the treasure was lying beneath the shivaling. A week later,he along with others,started digging in the temple,which is around 50 m from the shivaling.”
When locals asked the priest about the digging,he had said that it was being done to install a water pump,said police. “However,suspecting unusual happening inside the temple,the villagers informed the police. We rushed to the place and arrested the priest and his disciples,” Hayatnagar police station SHO Ram Pal Singh.
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